Sunday, March 3, 2013

......a spoon full of four......

.....Mary Poppins was just what the birthday girl needed.....some dancing, some singing, bright lights and a nanny that flies across the ceiling with her black umbrella.....


......we have been singing A Spoon Full of Sugar and Super-Cala-fragilistic-expialidocious for several days now......so much so, that Elsie has requested we check out the movie from the library since she has been feeling a little left out of the tune making......



.....post Broadway show, we headed back to the place we used to call home to meet up with Elsie and Brody who played with old friends all afternoon.....we called an semi impromptu pizza in the playroom shout out to friends......instantaneously, we had food, of course and several of our old neighbors who are now dear friends gathered in one place......the wine flowed, fresh salad was tossed, hot pizzas were delivered and a cardboard house begged to be colored......which provided time for the adults to catch up while the kids created......



....that is the thing about besties.....they show up to celebrate anything and everything.....

.....we have clanked glasses just because.....we have also welcomed new neighbors coming in and dear friends heading out.....we have blown out more birthday candles that I can count.....we have cooked for one another, housed each other's children when mommas had new babies, delivered goodies to sick families and have thrown last minute dance parties in the dead of the winter just so the babes could get the wiggles out.....

....because these families show up for everything, our sweet Callie, even on her "even" year; still had a bit of a bash......







....we whipped out the cupcakes and candles.....and my girl was serenaded with the birthday song until her heart was content......



     Brody loves to hang with the boys!



....thank you, sweet friends....


....our princess loved the love.....and even used her new beach chair as her throne for opening presents on her real birthday......


.....Callie, you are our middle child, although I would hardly say that you allow yourself to get lost in the family shuffle.....you arrived as my tiniest baby by an entire two pounds.....I adoringly still call you my runt and you love this term of endearment.....arriving as a tiny 6 pound baby, but determined not to begin your life unheard; you breathed your first breath with zeal and enthusiasm.....Daddy and I could not believe how loud your screams were and you can still shrill to the point of shattering glass.....but you love intensely.....you doll out affection to those you love without hesitation and you always articulate exactly how you feel with ease.....you are funny, witty, charismatic, creative, sensitive, thoughtful and full of emotion......you hold nothing back.....

....you relish in the role of being a big sister and little sister.....your place as our middle baby was selected for you with great care as you were being knit in my womb with God's perfect precision......

.....we love and adore the little girl you have become.....



.....I treasured this past week as a time to focus and celebrate the past four years of the blessing you have been to our home.....



....until next year, princess.....give four the glory you give all things......

.....I know you will do it with devotion.....

....I love you, momma....


....and when one celebration ends, we need to find another......

.....it was literally the day after Callie's birthday and as Brody and I paced the aisles of Target, he sang to me like a little lark.....it was a sunny, bright and brisk morning.......maybe it was the weather and the combo of his sweet voice chirping as he snacked on his goldfish, but I ended up going on an unexpected Easter-bonanza......


....and so now, we celebrate spring and the preparation of Easter.....



....we are discussing backyard egg hunts, jelly beans, dying eggs and chocolate bunnies.....



.....and in between hanging shiny eggs and miniature carrots on our Easter tree, we do weave in the real meaning of Easter; but we are celebrating it all.....



.....we trudge through slushy ice and a lot of mud.....we exchange our heavy coats for our light jackets......next season is near.....new blooms will arrive, bright colors will soon emerge and we will find more reason to celebrate.....


.....happy spring.....


....happy times......